Former Charlton Athletic forward Leon McKenzie has spoken of his mental health problems and the time he tried to take his own life.

In an open and honest interview with The Guardian, the 39-year-old - who went on to become a professional boxer, retiring in September last year - said that injuries affected him so badly throughout his football career that he wanted to commit suicide while at Charlton where his desperate feelings got the better of him.

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McKenzie had battled with his demons while playing for Norwich City in the Premier League after starting his career at Crystal Palace, where he scored on his debut as a 17-year-old.

Leon Mckenzie is stretchered off after an injury while playing for Coventry against Birmingham (Image: BPM/Trevor Roberts)

Picture: BPM/Trevor Roberts

He scored in all four English professional leagues in his 18 seasons as a footballer, making his name as a marksman at Peterborough United where he notched 46 goals in 90 games which earned him his move to the Premier League.

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By the time he ended up at Charlton Athletic in 2009, he was coming towards the end of his career and played just 12 times, scoring once.

He later moved on to Northampton Town before switching to the non-league game.

He said it was at Charlton where he sunk to a new low when injuring his hamstring at Sparrows Lane in training, where he "felt like someone had ripped the heart of my chest" as he walked to the physio room before breaking down in tears.